Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Fall, Albert Bacon

FALL, ALBERT BACON, a United States senator from New Mexico, born in Frankfort, Ky., in 1861. He was educated in the country schools. After reading law, he was admitted to the bar and began practice in 1889, continuing until 1904. He worked as a miner and became interested in mines, lumber, lands, and railroads, acquiring large interests in farming, stock raising, and mining. He served as a member of the New Mexico Legislature and as associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1912 and was again elected in 1913 for the term of 1913-1919. He was re-elected in 1919. In the Senate he gave special attention to the relations of the United States and Mexico, and in 1918-1920 he conducted a series of investigations relating to Mexico and the border States, Arizona and New Mexico. He became Secretary of the Interior on March 4, 1921.